U.S. patent application number 16/101562 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for endoscope.
This patent application is currently assigned to OLYMPUS CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is OLYMPUS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Chikayoshi MEGURO, Eijiro SATO, Kenji TAKATSUJI.
Application Number | 20180360296 16/101562 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59625762 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180360296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SATO; Eijiro ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
ENDOSCOPE
Abstract
An endoscope includes: an insertion portion including a bending
portion; an operation portion including a grasping portion and an
operation portion main body; a pedestal portion protruded from the
operation portion main body; a shaft member configured to be
tilted; a finger contact portion on which a finger of a hand is
placed, the finger contact portion being provided at an end portion
of the shaft member; and a step portion on which a finger of the
operator's hand, which is different from the finger placed on the
finger placing portion, is placed, the step portion being provided
at a position which is outside of a peripheral edge of the pedestal
portion and which is an opposite side of the grasping portion
across the shaft member.
Inventors: |
SATO; Eijiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; MEGURO; Chikayoshi; (Tokyo, JP) ;
TAKATSUJI; Kenji; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OLYMPUS CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
59625762 |
Appl. No.: |
16/101562 |
Filed: |
August 13, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2016/080504 |
Oct 14, 2016 |
|
|
|
16101562 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/0052 20130101;
A61B 1/0057 20130101; A61B 1/307 20130101; A61B 1/00066 20130101;
G02B 23/2476 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 1/005 20060101
A61B001/005 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 18, 2016 |
JP |
2016-028823 |
Claims
1. An endoscope comprising: an insertion portion which includes a
bending portion and into which bending wires corresponding to four
directions of up, down, left, and right are inserted; an operation
portion including a grasping portion provided on a proximal end
side of the insertion portion and an operation portion main body; a
pedestal portion provided in a protruded manner on the operation
portion main body of the operation portion; a bending operation
lever provided so as to protrude outward from an upper surface
center of the pedestal portion, the bending operation lever being
configured to be tilted by an operator with a finger of a hand
grasping the grasping portion so as to pull at least one of the
bending wires in a state where the operator grasps the grasping
portion of the operation portion; a finger contact portion on which
the finger of the operator's hand grasping the grasping portion is
placed when the bending operation lever is tilted, the finger
contact portion being provided at an end portion of the bending
operation lever protruded outward; a side surface of the pedestal
portion formed outside of a peripheral edge of the pedestal
portion, the side surface being a surface rising from the operation
portion main body; and a step portion on which a finger of the
operator's hand grasping the grasping portion, which is different
from the finger placed on the finger contact portion, is capable of
being placed, the step portion including the side surface of the
pedestal portion and being formed on an opposite side of the
grasping portion grasped by the operator across the bending
operation lever.
2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the finger contact
portion includes a finger placing portion which is a U-shaped
recessed portion having a curved surface, a center part of which is
recessed most.
3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operation
portion includes a first grasping portion having a first
longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insertion
portion and the operation portion main body provided so as to be
continuous with the proximal end side of the first grasping
portion, and the step portion is formed on a proximal end side with
respect to a proximal-end-side peripheral edge of the pedestal
portion.
4. The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the step portion
includes the side surface and a step surface formed on a proximal
end side with respect to the proximal-end-side peripheral edge of
the pedestal portion, and the peripheral edge of the pedestal
portion is formed in a tapered portion in which a width of an edge
portion close to the side surface becomes continuously smaller than
a width of a central part of the pedestal portion as separating
from the pedestal portion, or formed in a semicircular portion.
5. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the operation
portion includes a second grasping portion having a second
longitudinal axis intersecting with the longitudinal axis of the
insertion portion and the operation portion main body including a
flex portion, and the step portion is formed on a distal end side
with respect to a distal-end-side peripheral edge of the pedestal
portion.
6. The endoscope according to claim 5, wherein the step portion
includes the side surface and a step surface formed on the distal
end side with respect to the distal-end-side peripheral edge of the
pedestal portion, and the peripheral edge of the pedestal portion
is formed in a tapered portion in which a width of an edge portion
close to the side surface becomes continuously smaller than a width
of a central part of the pedestal portion as separating from the
pedestal portion, or formed in a semicircular portion.
7. An endoscope comprising: an insertion portion which includes a
bending portion and into which bending wires corresponding to four
directions of up, down, left, and right are inserted; an operation
portion provided on a proximal end side of the insertion portion,
and including a first grasping portion having a first longitudinal
axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, a
second grasping portion having a second longitudinal axis
intersecting with the first longitudinal axis, and an operation
portion main body formed in a flex shape and coupling the first
grasping portion and the second grasping portion; a pedestal
portion provided in a protruded manner on a flex-shaped outer side
surface of a flex portion of the operation portion main body; a
bending operation lever provided so as to protrude outward from an
upper surface center of the pedestal portion, the bending operation
lever being configured to be tilted by an operator with a finger of
a hand grasping the grasping portion in a first grasping manner in
which the operator grasps the first grasping portion or in a second
grasping manner in which the operator grasps the second grasping
portion, so as to pull at least one of the bending wires; a finger
contact portion on which the finger of the operator's hand grasping
the grasping portion is placed when the bending operation lever is
tilted in the first grasping manner or the second grasping manner,
the finger contact portion being provided at an end portion of the
bending operation lever protruded outward; side surfaces of the
pedestal portion formed outside of a peripheral edge of the
pedestal portion, each of the side surfaces being a surface rising
from the operation portion main body; a first grasping manner step
portion on which a finger of the operator's hand, which is
different from the finger placed on the finger contact portion, is
capable of being placed in the first grasping manner, the first
grasping manner step portion including one of the side surfaces of
the pedestal portion and provided at a position on a side of the
second grasping portion; and a second grasping manner step portion
on which a finger of the operator's hand, which is different from
the finger placed on the finger contact portion, is capable of
being placed in the second grasping manner, the second grasping
manner step portion including the other of the side surfaces of the
pedestal portion and provided at a position on a side of the first
grasping portion.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation application of
PCT/JP2016/080504 filed on Oct. 14, 2016 and claims benefit of
Japanese Application No. 2016-028823 filed in Japan on Feb. 18,
2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an endoscope including, at
an operation portion thereof, a bending operation lever configured
to be tilted when a bending portion is bent.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Endoscopes include an elongated insertion portion and an
observation optical system provided on a distal end side of the
insertion portion. Some endoscopes include, on the distal end side
of the insertion portion thereof, a bending portion configured to
bend in two directions, i.e., up and down directions or in four
directions, i.e., up, down, left, and right directions. Such
endoscopes are provided with the bending portion at the insertion
portion, thereby capable of improving the insertion performance
when being inserted into a subject and capable of performing a
wide-range observation by changing the field-of-view direction.
[0004] Generally, an operation portion configured to serve also as
a grasping portion is provided at the proximal end portion of the
insertion portion. The endoscopes provided with a bending portion
include, at the operation portion, a bending operation device for
performing bending operation of the bending portion. The bending
operation device is provided at an operation portion main body of
the operation portion so as to be operable with the hand and
fingers of an operator, such as a doctor, grasping the grasping
portion.
[0005] The bending operation device includes a bending operation
knob of a substantially circular shape which is rotatably attached
to the operation portion main body with a shaft member, and a
substantially L-shaped operation lever disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-189685, or an operation
element which stands upright at the operation portion and
configured to be tiltable, as disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-158571.
[0006] The bending portion is configured to bend by pulling or
relaxing the bending wires by the operator rotating the bending
operation knob or the operation lever around the shaft member. The
endoscope including the bending portion configured to bend in four
directions includes a pair of bending operation knobs or a pair of
operation levers at the operation portion.
[0007] In contrast, one end portion of the operation element
configured to be tilted protrudes outward from one surface of the
operation portion main body so as to be tiltable. The other end
portion of the operation element is fixed to, for example, a
cross-shaped suspended frame with arm portions which is provided in
the operation portion.
[0008] In the endoscope including the operation element, the
bending wires are pulled and relaxed by the operator tilting the
operation element in a desired direction at a desired angle, which
causes the bending portion to bend by a desired amount.
[0009] Thus, the operation element configured to be tiltable is
preferable for intuitively bending the bending portion provided at
the insertion portion of the endoscope and configured to bend in
four directions.
[0010] Note that the endoscope disclosed in the Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-158571 includes a
power-assisted bending drive mechanism configured to pull the
bending wires by the rotation driving force generated by a motor in
conjunction with the tilting operation by the operator, to thereby
assist the bending portion to bend.
[0011] On the other hand, the applicant of the present application
discloses, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-102625, the
endoscope which can realize equivalent operability by either of the
left hand and right hand, without increasing the size of the
operation portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An endoscope according to one aspect of the present
invention includes: an insertion portion which includes a bending
portion and into which bending wires corresponding to four
directions of up, down, left, and right are inserted; an operation
portion including a grasping portion provided on a proximal end
side of the insertion portion and an operation portion main body; a
pedestal portion provided in a protruded manner on the operation
portion main body of the operation portion; a bending operation
lever provided so as to protrude outward from an upper surface
center of the pedestal portion, the bending operation lever being
configured to be tilted by an operator with a finger of a hand
grasping the grasping portion so as to pull at least one of the
bending wires in a state where the operator grasps the grasping
portion of the operation portion; a finger contact portion on which
the finger of the operator's hand grasping the grasping portion is
placed when the bending operation lever is tilted, the finger
contact portion being provided at an end portion of the bending
operation lever protruded outward; a side surface of the pedestal
portion formed outside of a peripheral edge of the pedestal
portion, the side surface being a surface rising from the operation
portion main body; and a step portion on which a finger of the
operator's hand grasping the grasping portion, which is different
from the finger placed on the finger contact portion, is capable of
being placed, the step portion including the side surface of the
pedestal portion and being formed on an opposite side of the
grasping portion grasped by the operator across the bending
operation lever.
[0013] An endoscope according to another aspect of the present
invention includes: an insertion portion which includes a bending
portion and into which bending wires corresponding to four
directions of up, down, left, and right are inserted; an operation
portion provided on a proximal end side of the insertion portion,
and including a first grasping portion having a first longitudinal
axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, a
second grasping portion having a second longitudinal axis
intersecting with the first longitudinal axis, and an operation
portion main body formed in a flex shape and coupling the first
grasping portion and the second grasping portion; a pedestal
portion provided in a protruded manner on a flex-shaped outer side
surface of a flex portion of the operation portion main body; a
bending operation lever provided so as to protrude outward from an
upper surface center of the pedestal portion, the bending operation
lever being configured to be tilted by an operator with a finger of
a hand grasping the grasping portion in a first grasping manner in
which the operator grasps the first grasping portion or in a second
grasping manner in which the operator grasps the second grasping
portion, so as to pull at least one of the bending wires; a finger
contact portion on which the finger of the operator's hand grasping
the grasping portion is placed when the bending operation lever is
tilted in the first grasping manner or the second grasping manner,
the finger contact portion being provided at an end portion of the
bending operation lever protruded outward; side surfaces of the
pedestal portion formed outside of a peripheral edge of the
pedestal portion, each of the side surfaces being a surface rising
from the operation portion main body; a first grasping manner step
portion on which a finger of the operator's hand, which is
different from the finger placed on the finger contact portion, is
capable of being placed in the first grasping manner, the first
grasping manner step portion including one of the side surfaces of
the pedestal portion and provided at a position on a side of the
second grasping portion; and a second grasping manner step portion
on which a finger of the operator's hand, which is different from
the finger placed on the finger contact portion, is capable of
being placed in the second grasping manner, the second grasping
manner step portion including the other of the side surfaces of the
pedestal portion and provided at a position on a side of the first
grasping portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 describes an endoscope.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view describing the endoscope in FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 3 mainly describes an operation portion main body and a
bending operation device of an operation portion of the
endoscope.
[0017] FIG. 4 describes the operation portion viewed from the
direction of the arrow Y4 in FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 5 describes the operation portion viewed from the
direction of the arrow Y5 in FIG. 2.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a top view of a finger contact portion viewed from
the direction of the arrow Y5 in FIG. 2.
[0020] FIG. 7 describes another exemplary configuration of the
finger contact portion.
[0021] FIG. 8A illustrates a state where an operator with large
hands grasps the operation portion in a first grasping manner.
[0022] FIG. 8B illustrates a state where an operator with hands of
a standard size grasps the operation portion in the first grasping
manner.
[0023] FIG. 8C illustrates a state where an operator with small
hands grasps the operation portion in the first grasping
manner.
[0024] FIG. 9A illustrates a state where the operator with large
hands grasps the operation portion in a second grasping manner.
[0025] FIG. 9B illustrates a state where the operator with hands of
the standard size grasps the operation portion in the second
grasping manner.
[0026] FIG. 9C illustrates a state where the operator with small
hands grasps the operation portion in the second grasping
manner.
[0027] FIG. 10 describes an endoscope having another configuration
in which the endoscope includes an operation portion provided with
a first grasping portion and an operation portion main body.
[0028] FIG. 11 describes an endoscope having yet another
configuration in which the endoscope includes an operation portion
provided with a second grasping portion and an operation portion
main body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0029] The present invention will be described with reference to
the drawings.
[0030] Each of the drawings used in the description below
schematically shows the components, and there is a case where a
different dimensional relationship, a different scale size, etc.,
are used for each of the components in order to allow each of the
components to be illustrated in a recognizable size in the
drawings. Therefore, with regard to the number, shapes, ratio of
the sizes of the components, and a relative positional relationship
among the components, the present invention is not limited only to
those shown in the drawings.
[0031] An endoscope 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an endoscope to be used in
the urology department, for example.
[0032] The endoscope 1 includes an elongated insertion portion 2
configured to be inserted into a subject and an operation portion
3. The insertion portion 2 includes, in the following order from
the distal end side, a distal end portion 2a, a bending portion 2b,
and a flexible tube portion 2c that are provided in a linked
manner. In the distal end portion 2a, an image pickup unit
including an image pickup device such as CCD, CMOS, etc., is
incorporated. The bending portion 2b is configured to bend in four
directions, i.e., up, down, left, and right directions, for
example. The flexible tube portion 2c has flexibility and
configured to bend passively.
[0033] The operation portion 3 mainly includes a first grasping
portion 4, a second grasping portion 5, and an operation portion
main body 6. The first grasping portion 4, the second grasping
portion 5, and the operation portion main body 6 are cylindrical
members. The operation portion main body 6 includes, in the
internal space thereof, a bending operation mechanism portion, and
a bending operation device 7, which constitutes the bending
operation mechanism portion, protrudes from the operation potion
main body 6. A first step portion 20 and a second step portion 30,
to be described later, are provided opposed to each other across
the bending operation device 7.
[0034] The reference sign 8 denotes a port rotating portion and
provided between the insertion portion 2 and the first grasping
portion 4. Specifically, the distal end side of the port rotating
portion 8 is connected to the insertion portion 2 through a
break-prevention portion. On the other hand, the proximal end side
of the port rotating portion 8 is rotatably coupled to the distal
end side of the first grasping portion 4 through a rotating
mechanism (not shown). The reference sign 8a denotes an opening
part such as a treatment instrument insertion port and provided, in
a protruded manner, on the outer circumferential surface of the
port rotating portion 8.
[0035] The reference sign 9 denotes a universal cord. The universal
cord 9 is extended from the proximal end side of the second
grasping portion 5. The universal cord 9 includes, at an extension
end thereof, an endoscope connector (not shown). The endoscope
connector is connectable to a light source apparatus (not shown) as
an external apparatus of the endoscope 1 or a signal processing
apparatus for endoscope (not shown).
[0036] The reference signs 41, 42, 43, and 44 are various operation
switches, and include, for example, an observation mode switching
switch for instructing the switching of the observation mode, a
freeze switch for generating a freeze signal, a release switch for
generating a release signal when performing photographing, and the
like.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the operation portion main body 6 is a
coupling member that couples the first grasping portion 4 and the
second grasping portion 5, and formed in a flex shape. Therefore, a
first longitudinal axis a4, which is a longitudinal direction axis
of the first grasping portion 4 coupled to the distal end side of
the operation potion main body 6, and a second longitudinal axis
a5, which is a longitudinal direction axis of the second grasping
portion 5 coupled to the proximal end side of the operation portion
main body 6, are in a positional relationship intersecting with
each other at the operation portion main body 6. The first
longitudinal axis a4 of the first grasping portion 4 is parallel to
the longitudinal axis a2 of the insertion portion.
[0038] The port rotating portion 8, which has a rotation mechanism,
is rotated around the first longitudinal axis a4 of the first
grasping portion 4 integrally with the insertion portion 2, to
thereby be capable of changing the position of the treatment
instrument insertion port 8a as shown with the dashed lines in FIG.
2, for example.
[0039] Description will be made on the operation portion main body
6 referring to FIGS. 2 to 5.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation portion main body 6
includes, at a middle portion thereof, a pedestal portion 6a, and a
finger rest projection portion 6b. The finger rest projection
portion 6b is a projection portion protruded from the flex-shaped
inner side surface. On the other hand, the pedestal portion 6a is a
table-like portion formed so as to protrude from the flex-shaped
outer side surface which is the opposite side of the finger rest
projection portion 6b.
[0041] The reference sign 7 denotes a bending operation device. A
shaft member 7a, which is a bending operation lever constituting
the bending operation device 7, is provided so as to stand
substantially upright with respect to the upper surface 6u of the
pedestal portion 6a. A cover member 6c is provided on the upper
surface 6u of the pedestal portion 6a. The cover member 6c is an
elastic member, and water-tightly covers an opening (not shown),
which is formed on the upper surface 6u and which leads to the
internal space of the operation portion main body.
[0042] The substantial center of the cover member 6c covering the
opening is formed so as to cover up to the middle portion of the
shaft member 7a.
[0043] A finger contact portion 7b is fixed to the one end portion
of the shaft member 7a, which protrudes outward from the cover
member 6c. The shaft member 7a is held by the cover member 6c so as
to stand upright and configured to be tillable against the elastic
force of the cover member 6c.
[0044] The other end portion of the shaft member 7a is arranged in
the internal space of the operation potion main body, and coupled
and fixed to a suspended frame 10, which is shown with the dashed
lines in FIG. 3, provided in the internal space of the operation
portion main body and constituting the bending operation
mechanism.
[0045] The suspended frame 10 is formed in a cross shape with four
arm portions 11, 12, 13, and 14, for example. A wire fixing hole 15
is formed at a predetermined position of each of the arm portions
11, 12, 13, and 14.
[0046] The proximal-end-side end portions of bending wires 16, 17,
18, and 19 which respectively correspond to up, down, left, and
right are fixed respectively to the wire fixing holes 15. The
distal-end-side end portions of the bending wires 16, 17, 18, and
19 are fixed to the parts corresponding respectively to up, down,
left, and right of the distal end bending piece that configures the
bending portion 2b.
[0047] The bending portion 2b is configured to bend by any of the
bending wires 16, 17, 18, and 19 being pulled or relaxed by the
suspended frame 10 being swung in accordance with the tilting
operation of the shaft member 7a.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the finger contact portion 7b is
a hexahedron, and what is called, a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped shape, or a truncated quadrangular pyramid shape
formed by cutting, in parallel to the bottom surface, the apex
portion side of the quadrangular pyramid. The center of the bottom
surface of the finger contact portion 7b is an attaching surface to
which the one end portion of the shaft member 7a is fixed. In such
a fixed state, the finger contact portion 7b is arranged such that
the longitudinal axis thereof is perpendicular to the first
longitudinal axis a4 of the operation portion main body 6, as shown
in FIG. 5.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a finger placing portion 7d is
provided on the top surface of the finger contact portion 7b.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, the finger of the hand grasping the
first grasping portion 4 or the finger of the hand grasping the
second grasping portion 5 is placed on the finger placing portion
7d. As shown in FIG. 4, the finger placing portion 7d is a
substantially U-shaped recessed portion and is a curved surface,
the center of which in the longitudinal direction is recessed
most.
[0051] When the operator performs bending operation of the bending
portion 2b, if the operator places the finger in the finger placing
portion 7d as a recessed portion to move the finger contact portion
7b in the longitudinal direction of the finger contact portion 7b,
to thereby perform tilting operation of the shaft member 7a, the
contact area between the finger housed in the recessed portion and
the finger placing portion 7d becomes large. Therefore, it is easy
for the operator to perform tilting operation of the shaft member
7a with the finger placing portion 7d, without releasing the placed
finger from the finger placing portion 7d.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, a plurality of projection
portions 7f that are substantially parallel to the long sides 7e
are provided, as slip stoppers, on the curved surface of the finger
placing portion 7d. In addition, on each of the side surfaces
respectively including the long sides 7e of the finger placing
portion 7d, a plurality of projection portions 7f 1, which are
substantially parallel to the long sides 7e, are provided as slip
stoppers. Furthermore, on each of the side surfaces respectively
including short sides 7c of the finger placing portion 7d, a
plurality of projection portions 7f 2, which are substantially
parallel to the short sides 7c, are provided as slip stoppers.
[0053] As a result, as described above, when the operator places
the finger in the finger placing portion 7d to move the finger
contact portion 7b in the short direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction to tilt the shaft member 7a, the fingertip
and finger pulp of the finger arranged in the finger placing
portion 7d touch the projection portions 7f 1 and 7f, which
prevents the slippage of the finger. As a result, the tilting
operation becomes easier.
[0054] Note that projection portions 7f 3, which are parallel to
the short sides 7c, may be provided, as slip stoppers, in the
vicinity of the top surface of the finger placing portion 7d as the
substantially U-shaped recessed portion of the finger contact
portion 7b, as shown in FIG. 6. With such a configuration, during
the tilting operation for moving the finger contact portion 7b in
the longitudinal direction of the finger contact portion 7b, the
finger housed in the finger placing portion 7d touches the
projection portions 7f3, which prevents the slippage of the finger
on the finger placing portion 7d. As a result, the tilting
operation becomes easier.
[0055] In addition, each of the side surfaces respectively
including the long sides 7e of the finger contact portion 7b may be
formed with a curved surface, the center of which in the
longitudinal direction is recessed most. In this case, the
projection portions 7f1, which are substantially parallel to the
long sides 7e, may be provided on each of the recessed curved
surface as slip stoppers.
[0056] As a result, when the operator places his or her finger on
the finger placing portion 7d, the fingertip and finger pulp are
placed in close contact not only with the top surface of the finger
contact portion 7b but also with the recessed curved surface, which
enables the operability to be increased.
[0057] Note that, in the above description, each of the side
surfaces respectively including the long sides 7e of the finger
contact portion 7b is formed with the curved surface, the center of
which in the longitudinal direction is recessed most. However, as
shown in FIG. 7, each of the side surfaces respectively including
the long sides 7e of the finger contact portion 7b may be formed
with a convex curved surface, the center of which in the
longitudinal direction is projected most. In this case, projection
portions 7f4, which are parallel to the long sides 7e, and the
projection portions 7f5, which are substantially perpendicular to
the long sides 7e, may be provided as slip stoppers at positions
between the center of the curved surface and the vicinity of the
both short sides of the side surfaces.
[0058] With such a configuration, when the operator places his or
her finger on the finger placing portion 7d, the fingertip and
finger pulp are placed not only on the top surface of finger
contact portion but also on the projection portions 7f4, 7f5 on the
convex curved surfaces, which provides favorable operability. In
addition, when the operator performs tilting operation for moving
the finger contact portion 7b in the longitudinal direction of the
finger contact portion 7b, the finger is caught on the projection
portions 7f5, to thereby prevent the finger from slipping.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first step portion 20 and the
second step portion 30 are provided on the operation portion main
body 6 so as to be opposed to each other across the pedestal
portion 6a.
[0060] The first step portion 20 is provided at a position which is
outside of a peripheral edge 6d of the pedestal portion 6a and
which is on the distal end side with respect to a distal-end-side
peripheral edge 6f located on the side of the first grasping
portion 4. On the other hand, the second step portion 30 is
provided at a position which is outside of the peripheral edge 6d
of the pedestal portion 6a and which is on the proximal end side
with respect to a proximal-end-side peripheral edge 6e located on
the opposite side of the first step portion 20 across the bending
operation device 7.
[0061] Note that the peripheral edge 6d of the pedestal portion 6a
is oval, for example, as shown in FIG. 5. The peripheral edge 6d is
divided into two parts, i.e., the distal-end-side peripheral edge
6f and the proximal-end-side peripheral edge 6e across a virtual
line L perpendicular to a longitudinal axis a6 of the operation
portion main body 6 on the upper surface 6u and passing through the
center of the shaft member 7a.
[0062] The distal-end-side peripheral edge 6f is a tapered portion
formed such that the width dimension thereof becomes smaller as
separating from the shaft member 7a. In contrast, the
proximal-end-side peripheral edge 6e is a semicircular portion with
the intersection of the virtual line L and the axis a6 as a
center.
[0063] Note that the distal-end-side peripheral edge 6f may be a
semicircular portion or the proximal-end-side peripheral edge 6e
may be a tapered portion.
[0064] The first step portion 20 includes: the upper surface 6u of
the pedestal portion 6a, which is an upper step surface; a first
step surface 21, which is a lower step surface, formed with a plane
or a curved surface; and a first rising surface 22. The first
rising surface 22 is a pedestal portion distal-end-side side
surface formed from the distal-end-side peripheral edge 6f of the
pedestal portion 6a to the first step surface 21.
[0065] The second step portion 30 includes: the upper surface 6u of
the pedestal portion 6a, which is an upper step surface; a second
step surface 31, which is a lower step surface, fomied with a plane
or a curved surface; and a second rising surface 32. The second
rising surface 32 is a pedestal portion proximal-end-side side
surface formed from the proximal-end-side peripheral edge 6e of the
pedestal portion 6a to the second step surface 31.
[0066] Note that a third step portion similar to the first step
portion 20 may be formed on a surface which is on the distal end
side of the finger rest projection portion 6b and which is the
opposite side of the surface on which the first step portion 20 is
formed, and a fourth step portion similar to the second step
portion 30 may be formed on a surface which is on the proximal end
side of the finger rest projection portion 6b and which is the
opposite side of the surface on which the second step portion 30 is
formed.
[0067] Both the first step portion 20 and the third step portion,
or only the third step portion may be formed on the distal end side
of the operation portion main body 6. Furthermore, both the second
step portion 30 and the fourth step portion, or only the fourth
step portion may be formed on the proximal end side of the
operation portion main body 6.
[0068] Note that, in the above-described embodiment, a first
operation switch 41 is arranged on the upper surface 6u so as to be
located on the distal end side with respect to the shaft member 7a
which stands upright with respect to the upper surface 6u. In
addition, a second operation switch 42, a third operation switch
43, and a fourth operation switch 44 are aligned on the proximal
end side of the second step surface 31 which constitutes the second
step portion 30 so as to be located at positions where the finger
F1 shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5 does not contact.
[0069] Alternatively, a plurality of operation switches may be
arranged on the distal end side with respect to the upright shaft
member 7a on the upper surface 6u. In addition, one or a plurality
of operation switches may be arranged on the distal end side of the
first step surface 21 which constitutes the first step portion 20
so as to be located at the position or positions where the finger
F2 shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5 does not contact.
[0070] Description will be made on operation portion grasping
manners of the endoscope 1 which is configured as described
above.
[0071] The operation portion 3 of the endoscope 1 includes the
first grasping portion 4, the second grasping portion 5, and the
operation portion main body 6, as described above. The operation
portion main body 6 includes the pedestal portion 6a, and on the
upper surface 6u of the pedestal portion 6a, the shaft member 7a
constituting the bending operation device 7 is provided so as to
stand substantially upright with respect to the upper surface 6u.
In addition, the first step portion 20 and the second step portion
30 are provided so as to be opposed to each other across the
pedestal portion 6a of the operation portion main body 6.
[0072] Therefore, the operation portion 3 of the endoscope 1 can be
grasped as shown in FIGS. 8A to 9C to be described below, depending
on the size of the hand or the lengths of the fingers of the
operator, or the preference of the operator.
[0073] FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate the first grasping manner in which
the first grasping portion 4 of the operation portion 3 is grasped
with the left hand of the operator, for example. In this first
grasping manner, the insertion portion 2 is brought into a state
hung from the operation portion 3 along the vertical axis.
[0074] The first grasping manner shown in FIG. 8A is suitable for
the operator with large hands and the operator with long
fingers.
[0075] The operator with large hands or the operator with long
fingers places the four fingers on the first grasping portion 4 to
grasp the operation portion 3, and operate the bending operation
device 7 with the thumb of the hand grasping the first grasping
portion 4. Specifically, the operator places the little finger, the
ring finger, the middle finger, and the forefinger of the left hand
on the first grasping portion 4 which is located on the distal end
side with respect to the finger rest projection portion 6b. Then,
the operator places the thumb of the left hand on the finger
placing portion 7d provided on the finger contact portion 7b, to
perform tilting operation of the bending operation device 7.
[0076] Thus, the operator with large hands or the operator with
long fingers places the four fingers appropriately on the first
grasping portion 4, to be capable of grasping the operation portion
3 in the first grasping manner in a secure and stable state, and
placing the thumb on the finger placing portion 7d which is a
U-shaped recessed portion. As a result, the problem that the thumb
falls off from the finger contact portion 7b is prevented, which
enables the tilting operation of the shaft member 7a to be smoothly
and securely performed.
[0077] The first grasping manner shown in FIG. 8B is suitable for
an operator with hands of a standard size and fingers of standard
lengths.
[0078] The operator with hands of the standard size and fingers of
standard lengths places the three fingers, i.e., the little finger,
the ring finger, and the middle finger of the left hand on the
first grasping portion 4, and places the forefinger of the left
hand on the proximal end surface side of the finger rest projection
portion 6b, to grasp the operation portion 3. Then, the operator
places the thumb of the left hand on the finger placing portion 7d
provided on the finger contact portion 7b of the bending operation
device 7, as described above.
[0079] Thus, the operator places the little finger, ring finger,
and the middle finger on the first grasping portion 4, and places
the forefinger on the proximal end surface side of the finger rest
projection portion 6b. This enables the operator with hands of the
standard size to place the hand and fingers in the vicinity of the
operation portion main body 6, thereby being capable of grasping
the operation portion 3 in the first grasping manner in a secure
and stable state. In addition, the operator can perform the tilting
operation of the shaft member 7a favorably with the thumb placed on
the finger placing portion 7d, as described above.
[0080] The first grasping manner shown in FIG. 8C is suitable for
an operator with small hands.
[0081] The operator with small hands places two fingers, i.e., the
little finger and the ring finger of the left hand on the first
grasping portion 4, places the middle finger on the proximal end
surface side of the finger rest projection portion 6b, and places
the forefinger of the left hand on the second step portion 30 such
that the palm side of the forefinger is placed on the second rising
surface 32 as shown by the dashed lines F1 in FIG. 5, to grasp the
operation portion main body 6 by pinching the operation portion
main body 6 with the middle finger and the forefinger, and thereby
the operator grasps the operation portion 3. Then, the operator
places the thumb of the left hand on the finger placing portion 7d
provided on the finger contact portion 7b of the bending operation
device 7, as described above.
[0082] Thus, the operator places the little finger and the ring
finger on the first grasping portion 4, places the middle finger on
the proximal end surface side of the operation main body 6, and
places the forefinger on the second step portion 30. This enables
the operator with small hands and short fingers to place the hand
and fingers closer to the operation portion main body 6, to thereby
be capable of grasping the operation portion 3 in the first
grasping manner in a secure and stable state.
[0083] In addition, when the operator with small hands performs
tilting operation of the shaft member 7a with the thumb, the
operator applies, as appropriate, a pressing force in the direction
opposite to the tilting operation direction from the forefinger to
the proximal-end-side peripheral edge 6e. As a result, the
operation portion 3 is prevented from moving or rotating in the
hand grasping the operation potion 3 following the movement of the
thumb with which the tilting operation is performed.
[0084] Accordingly, the force from the thumb is effectively
transmitted to the shaft member 7a through the finger contact
portion 7b, which enables the tiling operation with the thumb to be
smoothly and securely performed.
[0085] Note that, in the descriptions of above-described FIGS. 8A
to 8C, the first grasping portion 4 is grasped with the left hand.
However, the first grasping portion 4 may be grasped with the right
hand. In addition, the finger of the hand of the operator grasping
the operation portion 3 in the first grasping manner is placed on
the second step portion 30. Therefore, the second step portion 30
may be also referred to as a first grasping manner step
portion.
[0086] Next, the second grasping manner shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C is
a grasping manner in which the second grasping portion 5 of the
operation portion 3 is grasped with the left hand of the operator,
for example, and the longitudinal axis a2 of the insertion portion
2 extended from the operation portion main body 6 of the operation
portion 3 is arranged substantially horizontally. In the second
grasping manner shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the operation portion 3 is
grasped as if the operator grips a pistol. Therefore, the second
grasping manner is also referred to as pistol-gripping manner.
[0087] The second grasping manner shown in FIG. 9A is suitable for
the operator with large hands and an operator with long
fingers.
[0088] The operator with large hands or the operator with long
fingers places the four fingers on the second grasping portion 5 to
grasp the operation portion 3, and operates the bending operation
device 7 with the thumb of the hand grasping the second grasping
portion 5. Specifically, the operator places the little finger, the
ring finger, the middle finger, and the forefinger of the left hand
on the second grasping portion 5 at the positions on the proximal
end with respect to the finger rest projection portion 6b, to grasp
the second grasping portion 5. Then, the operator places the thumb
of the left hand on the finger placing portion 7d provided on the
finger contact portion 7b of the bending operation device 7, to
perform tilting operation of the bending operation device 7.
[0089] Thus, the operator with large hands or the operator with
long fingers appropriately places the four fingers on the second
grasping portion 5, to thereby be capable of grasping the operation
portion 3 in the pistol-gripping manner in the secure and stable
state, and then placing the thumb on the finger placing portion 7d
which is a U-shaped recessed portion. As a result, similarly as in
the above-described embodiment, the problem that the thumb falls
off from the finger contact portion 7b is prevented, which enables
the tilting operation of the shaft member 7a to be smoothly and
securely performed.
[0090] The second grasping manner shown in FIG. 9B is suitable for
the operator with hands of a standard size and fingers of standard
lengths.
[0091] The operator with hands of the standard size and fingers of
standard lengths places the three fingers, i.e., the little finger,
the ring finger, the middle finger of the left hand on the second
grasping portion 5, and places the forefinger of the left hand on
the distal end surface side of the finger rest projection portion
6b, to grasp the operation portion 3. Then, the operator places the
thumb of the left hand on the finger placing portion 7d provided on
the finger contact portion 7b of the bending operation device 7, as
described above.
[0092] Thus, the operator places the little finger, the ring
finger, and the middle finger on the second grasping portion 5 and
places the forefinger at the finger rest projection portion 6b.
This enables the operator with hands of the standard size to place
the hand and fingers in the vicinity of the operation portion main
body 6, to thereby be capable of grasping the operation portion 3
in the second grasping manner in the secure and stable state. In
addition, as described above, the operator can perform the tilting
operation of the shaft member 7a favorably with the thumb placed on
the finger placing portion 7d.
[0093] The second grasping manner shown in FIG. 9C is suitable for
the operator with small hands.
[0094] The operator with small hands places the two fingers, i.e.,
the little finger and the ring finger of the left hand on the
second grasping portion 5, places the middle finger of the left
hand on the distal end surface side of the finger rest projection
portion 6b, and then places the forefinger of the left hand on the
first step portion 20 such that the palm side of the forefinger is
placed on the first rising surface 22 as shown by the dashed lines
F2 in FIG. 5, to grasp the operation portion 3. Then, the operator
places the thumb of the left hand on the finger placing portion 7d
provided on the finger contact portion 7b of the bending operation
device 7, as described above.
[0095] Thus, the operator places the little finger and the ring
finger on the second grasping portion 4 and places the middle
finger and the forefinger on the operation portion main body 6 to
grasp the operation portion main body 6 by pinching the operation
portion main body 6 with the middle finger and the forefinger, to
thereby grasp the operation portion 3 in a pistol-gripping manner.
This enables the operator with small hands and short fingers to
place the hand and fingers closer to the operation portion main
body 6, to thereby be capable of grasping the operation portion 3
in the secure and stable state.
[0096] In addition, when the operator with small hands performs
tilting operation of the shaft member 7a with the thumb, the
operator applies, as appropriate, a pressing force in the direction
opposite to the tilting operation direction from the forefinger to
the distal-end-side peripheral edge 6f. As a result, the operation
portion 3 is prevented from moving or rotating in the hand grasping
the operation potion 3 following the movement of the thumb with
which the tilting operation is performed.
[0097] Consequently, the force form the thumb is effectively
transmitted to the shaft member 7a through the finger contact
portion 7b, which enables the tilting operation with the thumb to
be smoothly and securely performed.
[0098] Note that, in the above-described descriptions of FIGS. 9A
to 9C, the second grasping portion 5 is grasped with the left hand.
However, similarly as in the grasping manner shown in FIGS. 8A to
8C, the second grasping portion 5 may be grasped with the right
hand. In addition, the finger of the hand of the operator grasping
the operation portion 3 in the second grasping manner is placed on
the first step portion 20. Therefore, the first step portion 20 may
be also referred to as a second grasping manner step portion.
[0099] In the endoscope 1 according to the embodiment described
above, the operation portion 3 includes the first grasping portion
4, the second grasping portion 5, and the operation portion main
body 6. However, the endoscope may be configured as illustrated in
FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0100] As shown in FIG. 10, an endoscope lA includes an operation
portion 3A including a first grasping portion 4A and an operation
portion main body 6A. The operation portion main body 6A includes a
pedestal portion 6Aa. Similarly as in the above-described
embodiment, the shaft member 7a constituting the bending operation
device 7 is protruded from the pedestal portion 6Aa so as to stand
upright with respect to an upper surface 6Au.
[0101] A first grasping manner step portion 30A is provided on the
proximal end side of the operation portion main body, which is the
proximal end side of the pedestal portion 6Aa and which is the
opposite side of the first grasping portion 4A across the bending
operation device 7.
[0102] With such a configuration, the operator places the little
finger, the ring finger, and the middle finger on the first
grasping portion 4A of the endoscope 1A, and places the forefinger
on the first grasping manner step portion 30A, to thereby grasp the
operation portion 3A. As a result, the operator grasps the
operation portion 3 with the left hand, to thereby be capable of
obtaining a more stable grasping state.
[0103] In addition, when performing the tilting operation of the
shaft member 7a, the operator applies a pressing force in the
direction opposite to the tilting operation direction from the
forefinger to the proximal-end-side peripheral edge 6Ae of the
pedestal portion 6Aa, to hold the operation portion 3A. This
provides the same effect as that of the endoscope 1 illustrated in
FIG. 8C, that is, the operation portion 3A is prevented from moving
or rotating in the hand grasping the operation potion 3A following
the movement of the thumb with which the tilting operation is
performed.
[0104] In contrast, as shown in FIG. 11, an endoscope 1B includes
an operation portion 3B including an operation portion main body 6B
and a second grasping portion 5B. The operation portion 3B is
provided with a pedestal portion 6Ba. Similarly as in the
above-described embodiment, the shaft member 7a constituting the
bending operation device 7 is protruded from the pedestal portion
6Ba so as to stand upright with respect to an upper surface
6Bu.
[0105] A second grasping manner step portion 20B is provided on the
distal end side of the operation portion main body, which is
outside of the peripheral edge 6Bd of the pedestal portion 6Ba and
which is the opposite side of the second grasping portion 5B across
the bending operation device 7.
[0106] According to such a configuration, the operator places the
little finger and ring finger on the second grasping portion 5B of
the endoscope 1B, places the middle finger on the distal end
surface side of the finger rest projection portion 6b, and places
the forefinger on the second grasping manner step portion 20B, to
grasp the operation portion 3B. As a result, the operator places
the hand and fingers in the vicinity of the operation portion main
body 6B, to thereby be capable of grasping the operation portion 3B
with the left hand in a secure and stable state.
[0107] In addition, when performing the tilting operation of the
shaft member 7a, the operator applies a pressing force in the
direction opposite to the tilting operation direction from the
forefinger to the distal-end-side peripheral edge 6Bf of the
pedestal portion 6Ba, to grasp the operation portion 3B. This
provides the same effect as that of the endoscope 1 shown in FIG.
9C, that is, the operation portion 3B is prevented from moving or
rotating in the hand grasping the operation potion 3B following the
movement of the thumb with which the tilting operation is
performed.
[0108] Note that the present invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiments and the modified examples, and various
modifications and changes are possible. Such modifications and
changes are also within the technical range of the present
invention.
[0109] The present invention is capable of providing the endoscope
which is configured to be easily held by the operator, regardless
of the size of the hand and lengths of the fingers of the operator
or the preference of the operator, and which includes the bending
operation device that enables smooth tilting operation thereof to
be performed by allowing the operator to effectively transmit a
force from the finger placed on the finger contact portion to the
bending operation lever, irrespective of the tilting operation
direction, while allowing the operator to hold the operation
portion main body in the secure and stable state with the hand
grasping the grasping portion.
* * * * *